Stony Stratford Community Church - Pastors Pen

January 2012

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 12:10:31 GMT

I believe that 2012 is going to be a significant year for us as a church and therefore for us as individuals. In our leadership meetings it has become clear that the focus of the next few years is likely to be (a) the Building Development and (2) our Growth as disciples. I say “likely” because at the Open Church meeting on Jan 18th we will have a presentation from our architects as to how we can improve our buildings to better fulfil our mission. It will then be up to us to decide how we respond to that opportunity. Our response will determine the course of our journey together for the foreseeable future.

As the Senior Minister I am aware that what I say carries a lot of weight especially in a decision of this import. For a long time I did not feel that I had anything to say so I said very little. However in recent months I have felt an excitement in my spirit about the opportunity before us. I have had a strong sense of God being very interested in how we are handling this decision. I have seen clearly that if we say Yes to the Building Development Project it is not so much about the work we do on our building but it IS about the work that God does in us as we take the steps of faith on this journey. He is interested in conforming us to the image of His Son and in building us together into a Body who minister His life more fully to those around us. While the architects and builders work on the church building God will be working on YOU and ME!!! That is both exciting and SCARY!!!! In other words it will not feel safe and we will be out of our comfort zone a lot of the time. We will not be able to achieve this task unless God helps us, provides for us, leads us and guides us. So this will be a time when we discover how well we know Him, how much trust we really have in Him, how much we are willing to sacrifice to do what He asks of us. We will doubtless be praying “HELP” more often BUT we will also discover that God always keeps His promises. We will get to know Him more than we do now, listen to Him more attentively and discover that He wants to do so much more that we can ask or imagine. I will be sharing more of my thoughts on this at the Open Church meeting- on a video message I am leaving for you while I am in Uganda.

Where is all this leading? Over the years God has taken us step by step in the fulfilment of the Vision He gave us. We have been discovering what it is to be a loving family, anointed and filled with the Holy Spirit, reaching out to our local community and to all nations. He has taught us to value intimacy with Him and to ensure that prayer undergirds and infuses all we do. Now He is shaking us and stretching us (which has been prophesied to us)– in order that He can wake us up to the “more” he wants to do through us. Beyond this are the ways we will be used by God to bring about transformation in the communities to which we belong more effectively than we have done thus far. That is the Vision, that is where we are heading. Are you ready for the ride? There will be many tests and challenges but it will be a rich experience. Some of you will still have questions – don’t worry - between January and the decision we will talk and pray much more and I am sure our loving Father will make His will clear to us.

God Bless, Love Jacqui

November 2011

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 11:40:52 GMT

Psalm 127:1 “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labour in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain”.

This verse has been on my mind recently for a variety of reasons. I believe it is one of the most profound verses in scripture because it speaks so clearly to us that unless God is in control, our human efforts are futile. Coming from a background of architecture I understand this as God being the master builder and we are the labourers working alongside, under His instruction. So what is “the house”?

Well, it could be us personally – our spiritual life. It could be our family or home – as Christians we desire and pray for a solid Christian household where God is the centre of that house. But it could also relate to projects we are undertaking personally and corporately as a church.

Is God directing the path we take? Is He directing the steps? Of course we can easily fall into the trap where we fail to use our creativity and we expect God to tell us every single detail of life. However, God has clearly created us in His image and part of that image is creativity. He has skilled us and gifted us to build His Kingdom, as His labourers, with Him as the Master Builder. He has the overall plan but I believe He enjoys watching our creativity, watching us fulfil our destiny as He journeys with us and helps us along the road.

For 5 or more years now we have been looking at undertaking a building project here at Stony Stratford Community Church to “develop our buildings to fit the mission”. That is part of our vision statement – the vision rings, if you recall, and that is what we, as a church, signed up to and believed God was calling us to. The building project was never “if” but rather “how” and “when”. We are almost at a stage to bring to the church the proposed new scheme. We aim to present with the Architect at the Open Church meeting on 18th January and I strongly urge you all, members and non-members to make that date available in your diary and plan to be there to see the exciting things we believe God is leading us into.

I’m reminded of a story in the Old Testament. God had promised Israel the Promised Land, but for 40 years they wandered aimlessly while the disobedient generation, those who disobeyed God’s instructions, died. Now God says again, to Joshua and the people of Israel go into the Promised Land. But to do that they had to cross the Jordan River, which was in full flood – a truly terrifying sight and humanly speaking impossible. But the impossible is the ‘vicinity of Gods specialty’! However, to see that miracle of the Jordan waters parting to allow Israel to cross, the priests, carrying the Ark of the Covenant, had to dip their feet in the torrent of the Jordan. Joshua 3:15-16 “Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water's edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing”. They had to move forwards as a sign of their faith and trust in God before God responded. That step of obedience opened up the miraculous hand of God and the waters receded.

The trouble is, it is easy to want everything in place and to see how it will all work before we take that step of faith. But then that’s not faith is it? That’s human nature and as Christians we are called to be different. We’re called to be people of faith, to be people who trust in a living, all powerful, and all knowing God.

Now of course, we need to take care as we move forward along the road of faith. We must never presume upon God – that is a very dangerous place to be because that is not walking in faith. Equally not moving until we have everything clearly answered and mapped out is also a very dangerous place to be because that isn’t walking at all, not even standing still, in fact it’s going backwards. No, the walk of faith listens to the voice of God; it spends time seeking Him and His kingdom; it spends time in His Word; and it lives out that creativity. It means that we push doors rather than wait for them to be opened, and it means that sometimes we take a step forward even when we don’t know the outcome – but God does!

Blessings,

Ross.

June 2011

Thu, 26 May 2011 11:06:25 GMT

Physical fitness is something that we are reminded of from many quarters these days. Sadly for me it has never been high on my list of priorities. A few weeks ago one of the men in the church, Mike Wright, suggested we go for a run together. Bear in mind that I just have to run down our road with the dog and am worn out after 200 yards; his suggestion was to run around Furzton Lake! So, I located my trainers and my electric blue track-suit bottoms – yes, sad I know, and hoped it would be a beautiful warm sunny morning. The day in question dawned grey and wet. I arrived at Furzton and had an apple to make myself feel healthy. Mike arrived with his dog (which strangely didn’t tire for the entire run!) and we set out. To my amazement it was far easier than I had imagined. A little way in there was no sign of the grim reaper, or the sound of an ambulance coming to cart me off. In fact, though we stopped briefly on the bridge I made it all the way around! I was pleased with my achievements that morning and so rewarded myself with a fry-up when I got home!

The Christian life is, as Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 9:24-25, a race. Some people walk that race, others jog and some sprint their way through but all who complete the race are winners in God’s eyes – there is no second or last place. But as I discovered there were times when the running was harder than others. So too in the race of the Christian life, we have easy times and tough times … it isn’t always a breeze, but at all times we have Jesus who runs beside us and encourages us on. He isn’t just shouting from the finishing line He is right there, next to us, sometimes carrying us! What an awesome picture – being carried by Jesus.

One of my favourite films of all time has to be ‘Chariots of Fire’. Eric Liddell competed in the Olympic games in Paris in 1924. Battling in his mind the balance between his work as a preacher and his career as an athlete his father encouraged him “Run in God’s name and let the world stand back and watch”. Run he did, the world watched, and he won Gold in the 400 meters! Eric Liddell died as a missionary in occupied China of an inoperable brain tumor on 21 February 1945, five months before liberation. He was greatly mourned not only at the Weihsien internment Camp but also in Scotland. A fellow internee, Langdon Gilkey, was later to write, "The entire camp, especially its youth, was stunned for days, so great was the vacuum that Eric's death had left." Do you run in God’s name? Does the world watch you and marvel, as they did at Liddell, at what drives you … your relationship with God? 1 Samuel 2:30 says “…Those who honour me I will honour…” Liddell honoured God and God honoured him – he won the race. If you honour God with what He has given to you and you are faithful to Him, He will honour you!

One other observation that day, running around Furzton Lake with Mike, was that running with someone made it easier. It was a reason to push through the tough times, to talk together and take my mind off the pain in my legs and to be encouraged towards the end. As Christians we have a responsibility to run not out front alone but together spurring each other on. Picture the start of the London Marathon if you will – one mass of people running in the same direction with one sole intention – to finish the race. My primary role as Associate Pastor is to encourage you, the church, to run the race that God has set out before us, not shouting though a megaphone from a pulpit, but running it with you. Part of that involves a new initiative I am undertaking – seeking to make time to come and see where people in our church work and spend some time there with them, if possible, to see your personal race. Why not chat to me about it?

So, let’s not be frightened to slip on our spiritual Nike trainers and go for a run with God. It’s an awesome experience and you feel better for it. We have a responsibility to not only be spiritually fit but also, where possible, physically fit too, to take care of our bodies that God has blessed us with.

Mike said to me the other day he’d come up with a new name for our running … “Run with the Rev”! So why not? Let’s run together. :)

Blessings,

Ross.

April 2011

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 11:05:59 GMT

As I put fingers to keyboard I am aware of how good God is to us all. In the midst of a world where many things are challenging, painful and difficult to understand He reaches out to us with a love that is extravagant and enduring and invites us to enter more fully into the riches of His Kingdom.

I want to encourage you all, as I go on sabbatical, to take time to reflect on all that God has done in you, in this church and in the people you share life with. I am sure that as you do so you will be drawn to a place of worship and thanksgiving to God. I remember when Bob first came to this church after we were engaged he commented on the love that people had for one another. There have been many other people before and since then who have made such comments. Kathryn Marquis said something similar at the conference. She spoke of the blessing of being in a church that was open to move forward with God and of the good people we had in our worship team. It was a blessing to hear her speak those words honouring those who serve us week by week giving many hours to enabling us to encounter God in worship. We can sometimes devalue the people and the gifts that are in this church because we are so familiar with one another. But God has placed each one of us in this place, at this time to bless Him, to bless one another and to be the means of seeing the local community transformed. He has far more to do through us than we have yet dreamed or imagined.

Many of us do not walk in the freedom that God wants us to have. One of the most common crimes in the 21^st century is identity theft – someone stealing another person’s details and taking from them what they own. It is a crime that is difficult to detect and it can sometimes be long after the event that the damage is seen. As Christians we have an enemy, Satan, who specialises in stealing our identity. God has made us in His image and through Christ we have been adopted as His sons and daughters, we are accepted, loved, forgiven, friends of God, people with a destiny to fulfil. Yet many of us live lives that reveal little of that fullness and freedom. We live believing lies that the enemy has put upon us as He seeks to rob us of our true identity. We are called to be those who listen to the truth the Father speaks about us. Why do we find it so easy to believe the enemy when he tells us that we are a failure, worthless and can never be useful to God, but so difficult to believe our heavenly Father who demonstrated His love by sending His only Son to die on the Cross for us? We have been duped!! And we need to repent of believing the lies.

I have put together a series for you to follow while I am on sabbatical which I believe will help you experience more of the Freedom that God wants for you. By the time I come back in July I expect to see more changed people! Some of you will be free from shame, guilt, condemnation and other things which have diminished you as a person. The freedom will come in different ways – for some as you receive the truth of God’s Word the Holy Spirit will give you understanding (revelation) – this is true for YOU and you will experience freedom! Others will need to receive ministry to unlock the places where you have believed those lies so that you can forgive those who have wounded you, forgive yourself for your mistakes and be set free as you allow other people to pray for you. There is more freedom for us all. Hallelujah

When I return from sabbatical I want to share stories of what God has done in Uganda and I want to hear stories of what God has been doing here is Stony Stratford Community Church because He is faithful and He is good to us.

Thank you again for allowing me this time to be refreshed and challenged in new ways. Bob and I would value your prayers as we embark on an adventure together in Uganda. We will update you with prayer requests as we are able. At the moment we know that we are speaking at 2 conferences, 3 sessions at each conference, May 6th-8th and May 9-11th. Pray that what we have prepared separately will work together as we minister and please pray that we will know clearly the leading of your Spirit. And we will pray for you in all that God will do here.

God Bless you (Mukama abawe omukisa!) Musumba Jacqui (Pastor Jacqui)

December 2010

Wed, 01 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT

“Want to get a new car for £1” I heard myself saying as I stood in Middleton Hall recently. Joy had roped me into helping her sell raffle tickets for the MK Community Raffle where various charities can come and sell the tickets and get a cut of the profits for their charity. I have never been sure about Christians and raffle tickets ... but that’s another issue! I didn’t get much interest so as one young woman in her mid twenties approached I said my line ... “Want to get a new car for £1” followed by “you’d look good in it!” … I just received one of those looks! Still, after 30 minutes I had sold 4 tickets, to elderly folk, so I left Joy to it and headed home.

It’s amazing as you look around, particularly at the moment with Christmas approaching; the amount of so called amazing offers that barrage our eyes and minds. And yes, sometimes they are good offers, but we live in such a consumerist society that I think we have forgotten the simplicities of life. I personally find it quiet tiring with the barrage of “stuff” that is thrown at us though the media every day. The other day we watched the television production of “Goodnight Mr. Tom” the classic children’s story set in WWII, and I reflected on how much simpler life was then.

You cannot get much simpler than a few bits of sawn timber, some crude nails and scratchy straw or hay that constituted a manger. The simple life that Jesus was born into, young, fragile and vulnerable on the one hand and on the other Creator God, King of the Universe, holding all in the palm of His hand. It blows our minds doesn’t it to try and hold those two images simultaneously? Yet that was the reality at zero AD. There were similar issues then as there are today and life was hard for some then as it is for some today. And who was the news of Jesus’ birth given to? The poor shepherds and the wealthy wise men of the East. Jesus came and pronounced a message of eternal life for all, rich and poor, who would choose to accept it. And it really is free with amazing consequences for those who choose to accept Him as their Lord and Saviour.

The trouble is that with all of today’s business and “stuff” being hurled at people, the simple profound message of Hope fights to be heard. And that’s where we come in. Because if we have accepted that baby as Lord and Saviour of our lives, then we can be His mouth piece, hands and feet here in the 21st century. We can shout the message of Hope to a pain-riddled world. But so often we find ourselves being caught up in the traffic of life with little time to come aside and hear what God wants us to do. So here’s an idea: have a great Christmas; celebrate Jesus birth with passion and energy; enjoy fellowship and fun with family and friends; but above all ask yourself these questions. “What am I going to do to take Jesus’ message of Hope to the pain-riddled world that I engage with day by day? Who am I going to pray for in 2011 to come to know Jesus? What am I going to do about it? Remember, you don’t have to do the saving ... that’s Jesus’ job. All you have to do is be available!

God bless you, and I hope you have a blessed Christmas and peaceful New Year.

Ross

October 2010

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT

It will not have escaped your notice that we find ourselves in a season where God is engaging us as a Church in Mission to other nations. Mission (from the Latin ‘to send’) is at the heart of Christianity. God so loved the world that He sent His Son (John 3 v 16) and Jesus said to his disciples “As the Father sent me I am sending you” (John 20 v 21). Both at home and abroad we are called to go and share the love of Christ in word and deed. Our church vision includes the phrase “reaching out to the local community and to all nations”. We have seen God call people from among us to serve Him full time or to go on Gap year/short term missions and we have supported them and been challenged by what they are doing. God is also drawing to us people from other nations and that enriches the life of the congregation. However God is giving us increasing opportunities to GO and share in His work in the wider world. How should we respond to that challenge?

Over the years I have had the privilege of going to Brazil, Germany, Ukraine and Uganda on Mission trips – all have enriched my life but this year has been the most challenging of all. There are many reasons for that, I think, but it is a fact. I would love everyone to have the opportunity to go somewhere different and see God at work in new ways. Here are a few (I could write a book!) of the things that I have been reflecting on following my trip to Uganda; a trip in which God inspired, affirmed, challenged, rebuked, provoked and disturbed me – for all of which I thank Him.

The first “awakening” was on arrival at Namirembe Guest house. Most of the people there were on Mission of some kind and they came from all over the world. A reminder that we are often so insular and think the Kingdom of God is about what God is doing in SSCC. In reality we are an important but a very, very small part of what God is doing in the world. There are huge opportunities to serve Him if we are willing to move out of our comfort zone and take the risk.
I went to Uganda focused on what I would be able to offer - to the children at KCC and in my pastoral responsibility for the team. I knew, from previous mission trips, that I would receive and learn but somehow God got under my radar and did things in me which I was not expecting and it was good! I was deeply challenged and humbled by all I was given by the people we met but especially the children. Their welcome, acceptance, & pleasure in the simple things of life and their love for God were disarming. To be surrounded by and prayed for by all the children on the final day was a very moving experience.
Prayer – the Ugandan people know how to pray. Their prayers are full of praise and thanksgiving to God for what they have not, lament for what they do not have. Everyone learns to pray and give testimony as soon as they are old enough to do so and it is a natural part of their walk with God. And when they do bring their needs to God they do so with a real recognition that they are dependent on Him. For many of them God is their only hope. It is a challenge to those of us who are actually very independent and self reliant and do many things in our strength rather than His; only calling on Him if we cannot manage ourselves. We all have much to learn about Prayer.
Gratitude – We all came back much more grateful for all that we have and also very aware that we have far more than we need. But should that experience have a deeper impact than simply making us more grateful? I think it should but how deeply will we allow the Spirit of God to challenge us on such issues? Kate and Storly, our missionaries working with a radio station in Haiti, recently encouraged people to read a book called ‘Radical’ by David Platt. Written to challenge American Christians it is also relevant to us. He looks at what it means to abandon everything for the Gospel and asks how many Christians are really living as Jesus intended. It is an uncomfortable read but as someone once said “Jesus came to comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable”. The author shares the journey of how his church took a radical look at possessions, money and lifestyle and the impact it has had on them. My time in Uganda has forced me to look again at what I have and what I need. How can I spend money on non essentials when so many have little or nothing? Some of the Scriptures sound more challenging when read in Uganda. (Try James 2 v 15 for a start) Yet the reality is that life in the UK is life in a different culture. Within a week of being back and making a promise to myself to be more careful about what I spend, I had 3 “business” meetings which involved spending money on lunch out. I was reluctant to do that yet that is the culture I live in. Should I challenge the culture – probably? My response was a decision that if I have to eat out, in addition to the cost of the meal, I will give away a proportion of what I spend to KCC or a homeless charity in the UK. It may not be the way God ultimately leads but it is my current response to a deep inner wrestling. How would you respond? Can we help one another reflect on these important issues?
Going matters – I need to reiterate what we have said a few times that going on Mission matters. Some asked would it not have been better to give KCC £35,000 so they could build a couple more houses. The answer is definitely NO! The delight on the faces of the people we met said it all. It meant so much to them that we had spent the money and taken the time to visit them. It communicated to them that they matter to God. No amount of money will do that for them. Giving ourselves, our time, our energy, and our love can actually be harder than writing out a cheque. And going does make a difference to us. None of us will be the same again – our walk with God has deepened. Who knows what that may lead to especially for the young people as they seek God about their future?

We hope that those of you who have not been away will not be irritated by our enthusiasm but encouraged by the journey we are on and maybe ask the question whether you should go “somewhere” in the future.

Following Jesus is an exciting and risky adventure – are we following as radically as we should?

Jacqui.

August 2010

Sun, 01 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

“I’m after a mattress protector for a four foot six bed” I told the sales assistant in Dreams bed store, Milton Keynes. Whilst Joy was in the Dominican Republic on mission I had decided to surprise her by decorating our bedroom and since I had partly melted the last mattress protector in the tumble dryer, I decided a new one would finish off the bed at least! “You won’t believe it”, said the sales assistant, “we’ve sold right out of them, apart from this deluxe one at £46.99”. “I’m not royalty” I said. “I’ll come back on Monday. Thank you”.

Not one to be defeated I thought I’d look to see if there was another Dreams bed store around Milton Keynes. My iPhone said there was a “Dreams” in Newport Pagnell, so I dutifully phoned them up. “I’m after a mattress protector for a four foot six bed” I told the sales assistant on the phone, “the Milton Keynes store has run out”. “I’m sorry” said the assistant on the end of the phone “you want a what”? “A mattress protector for a double bed” I told him in no uncertain terms. “This is Dreams Balloon Modelling” came the reply! I put the phone down quickly!

The trouble was I was tired … too tired in fact and had replied upon my faithful companion (my iPhone, not Joy!) and didn’t check what it was telling me. In fact, tiredness is something that we all struggle with and as we approach the summer holiday period many of you will be looking forward to a well earned break. But unfortunately we live in a very pressurised society, particularly in the West. Even when we take a holiday
we come back to a mountain of e-mails and our to-do list has grown exponentially. Sometimes we deduce that it is easier not to take a holiday and then we face the real danger of burnout. I have struggled with this issue of busyness for years. I am a very task focussed and driven person, but gradually, over the past three
years specifically I have seen the immense value of being sensible with time and taking time just to be.

I have been hugely helped by the concept of Soaking Prayer since coming to Stony Stratford Community Church. To me it typifies Psalm 23 “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake”. When we take time to do nothing except be with God, and for me personally the easiest way to do that is to read some scripture to meditate upon and then listen to some relaxing music with my eyes closed, I find it greatly rewarding. After all, God created us to be human beings, not human doings.

Now, having said that I am one of the first to encourage people to engage with all things that as a church family we do, but that is because there can be a strength and refreshment found from corporate fellowship after all it is the model of the Acts 2 church … Acts 2:46-47 Every day they continued to meet together in the
temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.

Being a disciple of Jesus Christ is not something that we fit in with our busy lives. It is a way of life, the way of life and, I’d argue, the only way of life in this world to a true sense of fulfillment. But we must balance the busyness that can creep in to church life … busyness that the devil can send our way but is masked as “doing the Lord’s work”. Yes, sometimes the Christian work is hard and yes sometimes God calls us to go the extra mile and bring a sacrifice of praise. But overall we need to ask the Holy Spirit to help us maintain a balance in our Christian walk with Jesus so that our relationship is revitalized. Remember nature has seasons of growth (spring & summer) and rest (autumn & winter) … why don’t we?

I pray that over this summer holiday season you will find some time to rest and relax and why not take on board Soaking Prayer … you’ll be surprised what God does when you give Him your undivided time and attention!

Blessings, Ross.

June 2010

Tue, 01 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Dear All

I’m writing this the evening before going on holiday. It has been a horrendously busy few weeks and I feel ready for a break. Ivan prophesied over me that it was going to be a hectic time and that it would be hectic for the next 6 years!!! At first that didn’t sound too encouraging to me but on reflection it was good of God to tell me, as it helps me cope. It is important, however, to be busy with the right things and not just randomly filling the days.

One of the things that occurs when we get busy is that time with God can get squeezed out. We seem to feel that prayer can be laid aside for a while in order that we can catch up with the demands of work, family and church responsibilities. My experience tells me that we actually need to increase our time with God at those times so that we have the energy, wisdom and discernment that we need to deal with everything that comes our way. When I am tired I find my self saying Yes to things when the answer ought to be No and I find that tasks take longer than they do when I am operating from a place of peace. Do you recognise this in yourself? The Scriptures tell us “My God will supply all your need according to His riches in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4). God will supply time, energy, wisdom and gifts to do all that He asks of you and me. Those things are available to us but they are only available IN HIM, when we abide, share intimacy with Him. If we lack anything it is not because God is not willing to give it but more likely we are not taking time to receive it.

Another thing that frustrates me when I am busy is that people start to say, I can’t bother Jacqui she’s too busy. As a pastor I want to be available for people and if someone feels that it is me they must speak to then I try to make time for that to happen although I know it will not always be possible. I continue to learn to ask “what is God’s agenda for me today?!”

sometimes I end up seeing more people than I thought possible to fit in to a day
sometimes someone phones and cancels as their need to talk to me is no longer there. That may give me more space for sermon preparation, or for someone who just turns up and needs to talk. God is good at reorganising things to be done His way.
sometimes I mess up and in the busyness forget someone who is waiting for an appointment and then I need forgiveness and it is a good reminder that I am only human and need to remain dependent on God.

I’m looking forward to more time enjoying the Father’s presence and being in receiving mode for a while. God cares about my needs as the pastor as well as the people He has given me to care for and He reminded me of that in a very special way this week. In January I planned time to go away and have some prayer ministry for 2 specific things I wanted God to help me with; however, due to the snow it never happened. Since then there has been no opportunity. I was having a moan at God, telling him I knew I needed His help so what did He want me to do? Then one day this week someone who has never prayed for me before but who offers prayer ministry emailed me and asked if I would like the opportunity for some prayer sometime soon. I immediately recognised that as God’s provision. How good and amazing is God!!!

I hope you all will learn to enjoy the busyness that God calls you to, but to say No to the busyness generated by others and I hope you get a break in some way this summer too.

God Bless,

Jacqui